Liquid or cream applicator tops for containers



Nov. 24, 1959 R. H. FELTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1957 ATTORNEYNov. 24, 1959 R. H. FELTER 2,913,748

LIQUID 0R CREAM APPLICATOR TOPS FOR CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledNOV. 12, 1957 I INVENTOR. RICHARD H FELTER ATTORNEY United StatesPatentO LIQUlD OR CREAM APPLICATOR TOPS FOR CONTAINERS Richard H.Felter, Oakland, Calif.

Application November 12', 1957, Serial No. 695,554

8 Claims. (Cl. 15-139) This invention relates to liquid or creamapplicator ing of such slit when pressed upon the surface to be coated.

Particularly it is an object of the invention. to provide applicator topfor dispensing tubes or containers for liquid or cream which top is madeout of rubber or plastic or similar resiliently compressible materialand which has a slit arranged for the dispensing of said liquid or creamwhen pressed upon the surface to be coated and wherein a projection isprovided inside of the top for engagement with the container or bottletoapply pressure for keeping the slit normally tightly closed.

lam aware thatsome changes maybe made in the general arrangements andcombinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the detailsof the construction thereof without departing from the scopeof thepresent invention asset forth in the following specification, and asdefined in the following claims; hence I do not limit my invention tothe exact arrangements and combinations of the said device and parts asdescribed in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to theexact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings for the illustrative embodiment of the invention,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an applicator top;

Fig. 2 is a view identical with Fig. 1, with the absorbent fabricremoved.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal cross-section of the applicator toptaken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the applicator top placed on a bottle.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the applicator top showing the slit open. i

Fig. 6 is a vertical central cross-section through a modified form ofthe applicator top taken along the line 66 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 7 is a vertical central cross-section through the modified formshowing the slit therein open.

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the modified form of the applicator top.

Fig. 9 is a partial central cross-section through the same taken alongthe line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a front view of said modified form.

Fig. 11 is a vertical central cross-section through a second modifiedform.

Fig. 12 is a vertical central cross-section of the latter form showingthe applicator on the bottle, and

Fig. 13 is a cross-section of said applicator showing it open.

The applicator top 1, shown in Figs. 1-5 is used on a bottle 2, or othercontainer, for the purpose of spreading liquid contained in said bottleover a surface to be coated.

The applicator top 1 is made of rubber, or resilient plastic, andcomprises a cylindrical hollow body 4, the top of which is closed with adiametrically slanted wall 5, which is preferably covered by a piece 9of absorbent material for spreading liquid, such as shoe polishingcream, over a surface, such as shoe. The lower portion 6 of said slantedwall bulges outwardly in relation to the upper portion 7 thereof, whichlatter part terminates with a sharp point 8 at its highest point.

A generally rounded or. dished bowl or indent 10 is formed in the middleof the slanted wall 5 by curving a portion of said wall downwardly tomake a semi-spherical bowl 11. A slit 12 is cut radially across saidbowl 11, which slit forms the dispensing aperture through which theliquid is dispensed from the bottle. Whenever an internal pressureshould develop in the container 2, it squeezes the bowl 111 and closesthe slit 12.

The lower portion of the cylindrical body 4 is provided with a circularrecess 14, or is otherwise suitably adapted to engage the exterior ofthe neck 15 of the bottle 2 so as to hold the applicator top 1 firmly onthe bottle.

The applicator top 1 is provided with an internal projection 17 whichextends downwardly from the under side of the slanted wall 5 at itslowest end and near the body 4. The projection 17 is preferably madeslightly conical, its diameter decreasing toward its free end.

Fig. 4 shows that the neck 15 of the bottle 2 enters the space 18between the projection 17 and the cylindrical body 4, which space issomewhat narrower than the thickness of the neck wall of the bottle,whereby said projection 17 is pressed toward the slit 12 and is alsotilted in the same direction. The net result'of this double action is toclose tightly the slit 12 and to hold it closed until an externalpressure is applied on the applicator top 1 for opening the same.

In order to open said slit 12, the lower portion 6 of the slanted wall 5of the applicator top 1 is pressed upon the surface to be covered withliquid, contained in the bottle 2, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Thispressure forces the portion 6 and integral therewith the projection 17and the lip 18 forming a portion of the bowlll, downwardly, thus openingthe slit 12, whereupon the liquid passes from the bottle into the indent10 and therefrom through the slot 20 in the piece 9 onto the surface.

The various experiments conducted with this applicator top indicatedthat the provision of the slit 12 in the semispherical bowl 11 permittedto hold internal pressures up to 15 lbs. per square inch, which isfurther increased by the pressure action of the projection 17 on saidslit.

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 show a modified form of the applicator top 25. Thelatter has the same cylindrical body 26 closed by the slanted wall 27,which is raised in the middle and is divided into two halves 28 by alongitudinal groove 29.

The applicator top 25 is formed with two projections 30 located on thetransverse central line of the slanted wall 27 and close to the body 26.A semi-spherical bowl 32 is formed in the slanted wall 27 between saidprojections 30. The bowl 32 is formed with a radial slit 33 extendinglongitudinally in relation to the groove 29.

When the applicator top 25 is placed on the neck 35 of a bottle 36, theprojections 30 are moved and swung toward each other, thus squeezingsaid bowl 32 and facilitating the closing of the slit 33. a

In order to open the slit, the halves 28 of the slanted Patented Nov.24, 1959 wall 27 are pressed against a surface to be covered with liquidcontained in the bottle 36. This pressure is transmitted to theprojections 30 which compress slightly, whereby the slit 33 is opened,as shown in Fig. 8, and the liquid is permitted to flow out of thebottle.

Figs. 11, '12 and 13 show further modification in-which an applicatortop 40 has only one internal projection 41 which extends downwardly fromthe under side of the slanted wall 42 near its uppermost point. Thespace 43 between the projection 41 and the cylindrical body 40 isnarrower than the thickness of the neck wall of the bottle 2. Therefore,when said applicator top is placed on said bottle, as shown in Fig. 12,said projection 41 is moved toward the vertical center line of saidbottle.

The top 40 has a concave bowl 45 in the lower portion of said wall 42with a slit 46 therein which is securely closed by the displacement ofthe projection 41 when the applicator is on the bottle.

The upper portion 47 of said slanted wall 42 is raised. In order to opensaid slit 45 the applicator top 40 is pressed against the surface to becovered with liquid in the bottle 2. This pressure forces the rasedportion 47 downwardly and thus opens the slit 46, as shown in Fig. 13.

I claim:

1. A self closing applicator top for dispensing containers having adischarge neck with securing means thereon, said top comprising a hollowgenerally cylindrical body of resiliently compressible material, havingan open end, an element in said open end adapted to engage said securingmeans on the discharge neck of said container, an inclined end wallforming the applicator end of the container slanting at an angle to theaxis of said applicator top, an indented portion of sad applicator wallforming a rounded recess in the outer surface of said inclinedapplicator wall, and having a dispensing slit across the bottom of saidrecess and through said indented portion of said wall for dispens ngliquid when said inclined wall is pressed on a surface so as to opensaid slit, integral elastic means extended inwardly from the undersideof said inclined wall adjacentsaid indented portion to be pressedagainst the side of the neck of said container when the cylindrical bodyis secured in place so as to exert pressure toward tightly closing saidslit.

2. A self closing applicator top for dispensing containers having adischarge neck with securing means thereon, said top comprising a hollowgenerally cylindrical body of resiliently compressible material, havingan open end, an element in said open end adapted to engage said securingmeans on the discharge neck of said container, an inclined end wallforming the applicator end of the container slanting at an angle to theaxis of said applicator top, an indented portion of said applicator wallforming a rounded recess in the outer surface of said inclinedapplicator wall, and having a dispensing slit across the bottom of saidrecess and through said indented portion of said wall for dispensingliquid when said inclined wall is pressed on a surface so as to opensaid slit, a pair of integral elastic projections extended from theunderside of said inclined wall inwardly and spaced from the peripheryof said cylindrical body being laterally on opposite sides of saidrecess, said slit being formed generally vertically between saidprojections, said projections being spaced from said engaging element tobear against the inside of the neck of said dispensing container whenthe applicator is in position thereon so as to exert opposite lateralpressures on said indented portion for tightly closing the slit.

3. A self-closing applicator top for dispensing containers. having adischarge neck with securing means thereon, said top comprising a hollowgenerally cylindrical body of resiliently compressible material, havingan open end, an element in said open end adapted to engage said securingmeans on the discharge neck of said container, an inclined end wallforming the applicator end of the container slanting at an angle to theaxis of said applicator top, an indented portion of said applicator wallforming a rounded recess in the outer surface of said inclinedapplicator wall, and having a dispensing slit across the bottom of saidrecess and through said indented portion of said wall for dispensingliquid when said inclined wall is pressed on a surface so as to opensaid slit, integral elastic means projecting from the inside of saidinclined: wall inwardly and being engageable with the inside of thedischarge neck of said container to exert pressure upon said inclinedwall from the inside toward said slit for normally closing said slittightly, and an element projecting from the outer face of said inclinedwall at one side with respect to said slit so as to enhance the pressureon said side of said slit for opening the slit when said inclined faceis pressed upon a surface to be coated.

4. A self-closing applicator top for dispensing containers having adischarge neck with securing means thereon, said top comprising a hollowgenerally cylindrical body of resiliently compressible material, havingan open end, an element in said open end adapted to e11- gage saidsecuring means on the discharge neck of said container, an inclined endwall form ng the applicator end of the container slanting at an angle tothe axis of said applicator top, an indented portion of said applicatorwall forming a rounded recess in the outer surface of said inclinedapplicator wall, and having a dispens ng slit across the bottom of saidrecess and t rough said indented portion of said wall for dispensingliquid when said inclined wall is pressed on a surface so as to opensaid slt, integral elastic means projecting from the inside of saidinclined wall inwardly and being engageable with the inside of thedischarge neck of said container to exert pressure upon said inclinedwall from the inside toward said slit for normally closing said slittightly, and an element projecting from the outer face of said inclinedwall at one side with respect to said slit soas to enhance the pressureon said side of said slit for opening the slit when said inclined faceis pressed upon a surface to be coated, the said projecting elementbeing below said slit with respect to the incline of said end wall.

5. A self closing applicator top for dispensing containers having adischarge neck with securing means thereon, said top comprising a hollowgenerally cylindrical body of resiliently compressible material, havingan open end, an element in said open end adapted to engage said securingmeans on the discharge neck of said container, an inclined end wallforming the applicator end of the container slanting at an angle to theaxis of said applicator top, an indented portion of said applicator wallforming a rounded recess in the outer surface of said inclinedapplicator wall, and having a dispensing slit across the bottom of saidrecess and through said indented portion of said wall for dispensingliquid when said inclined wall is pressed on a surface so as to opensaid slit, integral elastic means project ng from the inside of saidinclined wall inwardly and being engageable with the inside of thedischarge neck of said container to exert pressure upon said inclinedwall from the inside toward said slit for normally closing said slittightly, and an element projecting from the outer face of said inclinedwall at one side with respect to said slit so as to enhance the pressureon said side of said slit for opening the slit when said inclined faceis pressed upon a surface to be coated, and the said projecting elementbeing above said slit near the top of said inclined wall so as to exertan inclined force for opening. a

6. A self-closing applicator top for dispensing containers having adischarge neck with exterior securing means thereon, said top comprisinga hollow generally cylindrical body of resiliently compressiblematerial,.having an open end for engagement with said securing means, aninclined end wall forming the applicator end of the top. slanting at anangle to the. axis of said top, an

indented portion of said end wall forming generally a concavo-convexbowl and having a dispensing slit across the bottom of said 'bowl fordispensing liquid, an integral elastic projection extending from theupper part of the underside of said inclined wall spaced from the wallof said cylindrical body and engageable with the inside of said neck forapplying pressure on the bowl for tightly closing said slit when saidapplicator is placed on a dis pensing container, a raised portion on theoutside surface of said inclined wall substantially opposite saidprojection for pressing against a surface to be coated to open saidslit.

7. A self closing applicator top for a dispensing container having adischarge neck with exterior top engagement means thereon, said topcomprising a hollow body of resiliently compressible material,circumferential sidewalls of said body fitting over said neck andengaging said engagement means, an inclined end wall forming theapplicator end of the top slanting at an angle to said top and beingheld by said body spaced outwardly from said neck, an indented portionof said inclined wall forming a concavo-convex bowl projecting inwardlyfrom said end wall and having a dispensing slit across the bottom of thebowl for dispensing liquid when said inclined end wall is pressed on asurface so as to open said slit, a projection extending from the insideof said inclined wall inwardly of said body adjacent said bowl and beingspaced from the adjacent circumferential wall of said body to receivethe wall of said neck between said projection and adjacent wall of saidbody thereby to urge said projection toward said bowl for normallycompressing the bowl and closing said slit.

8. The self-closing applicator top defined in claim 7, wherein saidprojection extends from said inclined end wall between said bowl and thelower end of the inclined end wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS378,744 Underwood Feb. 28, 1888 1,859,382 CruZe May 24, 1932 2,135,237Lewis Nov. 1, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 444,546 Great Britain Mar. 23, 1936536,539 Great Britain May 19, 1941

